GNLF suggestion on Darjeeling Chowrastha renovation

Darjeeling: The Gorkha National Liberation Front suggested on
Tuesday that the public be apprised of the plan to renovate Chowrastha,
the most famous square in Darjeeling town, and said the party would
start an online campaign to seek people's opinion on the revamp.

Y.
Lama, a GNLF leader, held a press conference at Chowrastha and said:
"We are not opposing the decision, we are not against development but
Chowrastha is the crown and heart of Darjeeling and we would suggest
that the renovation plan of Chowrastha be first made public and the
opinion of the people be sought."

On Teacher's Day, Bengal chief
minister Mamata Banerjee had inaugurated the first-phase of the
renovation to be undertaken by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
at Rs 5 crore.

"In the past, too, hawkers were removed from Chowrastha. Although a few
buildings had come up, not many benefited. Before that, a few staircases
and a platform (amphitheatre) were set up. Chowrastha is beautiful on
its own and it was replicated at other places, like MG Marg in Gangtok,"
said Lama.

The GNLF, however, did not talk about its leader Subash Ghisingh
setting up a water fountain at Barbourne Park, even though Darjeeling
faces an acute water crisis during dry periods.

When Bimal Gurung
was at the helm of the GTA, he had removed the fountain and the park to
set up an amphitheatre. Even though the GNLF demanded that the plan be
made public, The Telegraph had reported in its September 2nd edition about the five-phase master plan that has been drawn up by architect Dipang Lama.

For
the time being, the GTA will execute only two phases of the project
which entail laying cobbled stones, improving the horse stable,
increasing the space by three times, creating parking space and setting
up a children park.

More importantly, settling roadside hawkers
at a designated spot and clearing roads of encroachment are also part of
the project.

The Telegraph

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The Gorkha National Liberation Front suggested on Tuesday that the public be apprised of the plan to renovate Chowrastha, the most famous square in Darjeeling town, and said the party